Tag: Charter Schools

Education-Focused Reporter Roundtable Talks Charter School Funding, Teacher Shortage

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have another Friday reporter roundtable. WVPB reporters Chris Schulz and Randy Yohe are joined this week by Mountain State Spotlight’s Ian Karbal to discuss bills proposed to give more money to charter schools and study alternative school schedules to help districts without enough teachers. 

On this episode of The Legislature Today, we have another Friday reporter roundtable. WVPB reporters Chris Schulz and Randy Yohe are joined this week by Mountain State Spotlight’s Ian Karbal to discuss bills proposed to give more money to charter schools and study alternative school schedules to help districts without enough teachers. 

Also, the Senate once again turned its focus on the state’s health systems today by passing two bills, including one to expand their own oversight capabilities.

We also take a look at a public hearing in the House where speakers came to express their feelings on House Bill 3042. Officially, the purpose of this bill is to forbid excessive government limitations on exercise of religion and creates the Equal Protection for Religion Act. Members of the LGBTQ community are concerned the bill may be used to undo fairness protections.

Finally, it was Motorsports Day at the legislature. Enthusiasts from around the state, who race on four wheels or two came to promote their racetracks and ask lawmakers to enhance their speed driven industry. Randy Yohe has our story.

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The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Reporter Roundtable Talks Tax Reform, Campus Carry And Workforce Needs

On this episode of The Legislature Today, our WVPB reporters Randy Yohe and Chris Schulz sit down with fellow reporter Steven Allen Adams of Odgen Newspapers to discuss the past week at West Virginia’s statehouse.

On this episode of The Legislature Today, our WVPB reporters Randy Yohe and Chris Schulz sit down with fellow reporter Steven Allen Adams of Odgen Newspapers to discuss the past week at West Virginia’s statehouse.

Also, the Senate suspended its own rules to pass a bill Friday morning. Senate Bill 510 was introduced and passed by the chamber in less than five minutes. Senate Finance Chair Sen. Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, said the move was necessary to address a budgeting oversight around the state’s newly formed charter schools.

The Senate’s Workforce Committee met after the regular floor session Friday. As Chris Schulz reports, they heard two reports on the state’s workforce situation: one about what’s being done, and one about what could be done.

And getting young, out-of-state professionals, especially in the medical industry, to make a life and career in West Virginia is an across the board challenge. On West Virginia Rural Health Workforce Day at the West Virginia Legislature, Randy Yohe gets to the crux of helping meet that challenge.

The Legislature Today is West Virginia’s only television/radio simulcast devoted to covering the state’s 60-day regular legislative session.

Watch or listen to new episodes Monday through Friday at 6 p.m. on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.

Legislators Hear Several Reports On State’s Educational Systems

Sunday’s interim legislative meetings included several updates on the state’s schools and educational programs.

Sunday’s interim legislative meetings included several updates on the state’s schools and educational programs.

Cynthia Persily, vice chancellor for health sciences with the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission presented the Health Sciences and Rural Health Report Card.

Persily told the Legislative Oversight Committee on Educational Accountability that the state’s three state funded medical schools enroll more medical students per capita than any other state in the country, but most of them don’t stay in state

Despite the high enrollment, Persily says only 1 in 5 medical school graduates educated in the state end up practicing here due to a high debt load and lower reimbursement rates and salaries for physicians compared to other states.

“What we’ve seen is a steady decline in the number of students choosing to practice in West Virginia,” she said. “But I’m pleased to say that we at least leveled off from last year at 20 percent of our graduates from the classes of 2012 to 2017, who are practicing in West Virginia. We hope to start to see these rates incline.”

Persily says doctors are more likely to practice close to where they completed their residency, and state officials are trying to improve retention of medical school graduates with improved incentives.

Charter School Report

Later in the meeting, State Deputy Superintendent Michele Blatt presented a report on the state’s new public charter schools.

Established in 2021 by House Bill 2012, West Virginia’s first four charter schools opened this past fall.

Blatt says the Department of Education has worked to support the new schools, which all constitute their own local education agency.

“So if they want to work with a local county to provide transportation or child nutrition, then they have to pay for those services to the county because they’re separate from that,” Blatt said. “But we’ve worked through Jefferson County and Mon county to make sure that everything is working together the way that it should.”

There are currently brick and mortar charter schools in Morgantown and Kearneysville, as well as two virtual charter schools, with a third brick and mortar charter set to open next fall.

Blatt also presented brief reports on the regulations for the education of students with exceptionalities, the Feed to Achieve program and class sizes.

First Charter Schools In W.Va. Begin Inaugural Fall Terms

These are the first schools that have opened since a 2019 state law allowed charter schools in the state.

West Virginia’s first four charter schools have opened their doors to students.

Three schools began their fall term Monday, including the brick-and-mortar Eastern Panhandle Preparatory Academy along with online schools West Virginia Virtual Academy and the Virtual Preparatory Academy of West Virginia. The Morgantown-based West Virginia Academy opened its doors on Aug. 2.

These are the first schools that have opened since a 2019 state law allowed charter schools in the state. A fifth school, Nitro Preparatory Academy, was also set to open this fall, but zoning-related delays have pushed back its opening date by one year.

The Kanawha County Circuit Court issued a preliminary injunction halting the creation of the state’s five charter schools in December of last year, but The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals issued a stay against the injunction in February, laying the groundwork for each school to remain in session starting this month.

“This state is no different than any other when it comes to charter school law. It takes a minute or two for the legislation to come into place,” said Sharon Williams, superintendent of Eastern Panhandle Preparatory Academy. “And I’ve been in charter schools for over 20 years. And so I get it.”

James Paul, the executive director of the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board, says the schools promote individual choice in education, while those opposed to charter school programs say they undermine public education by removing funding from local systems.

“We’re excited that there’s increased educational options, and more opportunities for families to find schools that are going to provide great opportunities for kids,” Paul said.

Around 1,100 students are projected to be attending the schools statewide, with official attendance data set to be released in early October.

Approved W.Va. Charter School Won't Open This Fall

The four-member West Virginia Professional Charter School Board voted Wednesday to push back its contract with Nitro Preparatory Academy for one year, The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported.

A charter school approved to open in West Virginia this fall has been delayed after a suitable location couldn’t be found.

The four-member West Virginia Professional Charter School Board voted Wednesday to push back its contract with Nitro Preparatory Academy for one year, The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported.

Initial plans were for Accel Schools to open the school in a former high school building in Nitro but there were parking, plumbing and other issues.

“They are still deciding what building will best serve their students,” charter school board Chairman Adam Kissel said Wednesday.

Accel also is opening a brick-and-mortar charter school in Jefferson County as well as an online school.

Republican Gov. Jim Justice signed a bill in 2019 that allows for the creation of charter schools. Legislation approved last year created the new state-level charter board, whose members were appointed by Justice.

Other charter schools include one in the Cheat Lake area of Morgantown that will be run by West Virginia Academy, whose president, John Treu, is a West Virginia University assistant professor of accounting. The board also previously approved the statewide West Virginia Virtual Academy that will be operated by Stride Inc.

W.Va.’s Charter School Board Names First Executive Director

The West Virginia Professional Charter School Board on Tuesday named James Paul as its first, full-time executive director. Paul is expected to start his role on June 1 and said he plans to reside in the Eastern Panhandle.

The West Virginia Professional Charter School Board on Tuesday named James Paul as its first, full-time executive director.

Paul is expected to start his role on June 1 and said he plans to reside in the Eastern Panhandle.

“We are excited to have James lead our charter school network forward as it grows and matures here in West Virginia,” said Adam Kissel, chairman of the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board. “James brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the role and has access to a vast national network of expertise to bring the top best practices to the Mountain State.”

A news release from the board did not specify where Paul will be moving from, but he’s expected to have completed a Ph.D. in education policy at the University of Arkansas before he begins his new role in West Virginia next month.

Paul has worked with various education reform and policy organizations, including the Education Freedom Institute, the Foundation for Excellence in Education and the Commonwealth Foundation.

“I am delighted to help West Virginia serve its students,” Paul said. “Each child is unique and deserves the education that best serves that child.”

West Virginia is expected to have five public charter schools in operation this fall. Three brick-and-mortar schools in Morgantown, Nitro, and Kearneysville, and two statewide virtual schools.

According to the board, more than 500 students have already enrolled in the state’s charter schools with an estimated total enrollment of 1,500 students.

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